Student killed in poll-related violence in east Nepal

A student was killed in eastern Nepal on Thursday in clashes to gain control of the university campus during elections in Jhapa district, officials said.

A student was killed in eastern Nepal on Thursday in clashes to gain control of the university campus during elections in Jhapa district, officials said.

An activist of Federal Limbuwan State Council (FLSC), an ethnic students group, died in police firing when they tried to disturb the election of Free Students' Union (FSU) at Dhulabari Campus in the district, they said.

The victim was identified as Manil Tamang of Prithvinagar Municipality, the officials said, adding another student Man Bahadur Sherpa of Taplejung sustained serious injuries during the melee.

This was the first death in violence related to student union elections in Nepal. According to officials, the union elections have been put off after the violent incident.

In a separate clash, five suspected Maoist cadres and five police men have been injured when police opened fire to control a mob in Sankhuwasabha district.

The police had opened fire after the cadres of Maoists and UML clashed over the election issue. The clash occurred after pro-Maoist students threw the ballot papers, the officials said.